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Idaho’s relationship with Germany began when Germans first arrived to the Idaho Territory as miners, assayers, farmers, brewers and bakers in the 1860s. Thereafter, German immigrants continued to settle in Idaho, bringing with them brass bands, Oktoberfest and the Feast of St. Nicholas. These traditions endure. It is estimated that one-fifth of all Idahoans have German ancestry, making them the state’s second-largest ethnic group. Thus, it stands to reason that town hall meetings to discuss the significance and future of this critical transatlantic relationship have landed in Boise. Today, Germany and the United States maintain a range of partnerships in all areas of society — business and industry, foreign and defense policy, science and academia. Much of the cooperation occurs with little fanfare or visibility... Posted on March 12, 2019 by Robin Cammarota in Dr. Steven E. Sokol, News0 commentsContinue Reading

For many years Germany has been an important trading partner for the state of Tennessee and the largest European investor. (Photo: Larry McCormack / tennessean) STORY HIGHLIGHTS Matthias Heider is chair of the Germany-USA Parliamentary Friendship Group in the German Bundestag. Bob Clement is a former U.S. representative from Tennessee, serving 1988 to 2003. Steven E. Sokol is president of the American Council on Germany. Peter Weichlein is CEO of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress. Founded in 1980, last year’s 39th Oktoberfest welcomed a quarter of a million people to Nashville to enjoy German bratwurst and beer and to celebrate German culture, music, and traditions. Since more than 45 million Americans can claim German ancestry, it’s not surprising that so many Tennesseans... Posted on January 4, 2019 by Robin Cammarota in Dr. Steven E. Sokol, News0 commentsContinue Reading

So far this summer, there has been no “Sommerloch” (a break in the pace of current events), and with the NATO Summit this week and the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin just a few days later, there is no indication that things will slow down anytime soon. Chancellor Angela Merkel has been vocal in her desire to stave off a trade war between Europe and the United States. In light of the Trump administration’s tariffs on European steel and aluminum imports and current consideration of additional tariffs on automobiles, trucks, and automotive parts – which could be painful for Germany’s major car companies – the Chancellor told the German parliament that “it is worth every effort to try to defuse this conflict so... Posted on July 11, 2018 by Robin Cammarota in Dr. Steven E. Sokol, News0 commentsContinue Reading

If the American-German relationship can survive US President Donald Trump's term, it'll be stronger than ever, write three policy experts for Handelsblatt. The Paris Climate Accord. Steel and aluminum tariffs. The Iran Deal. It is hard to imagine a rougher patch in transatlantic and US-German relations. Earlier this month, when we participated in a conference with German and American opinion leaders who had gathered in Washington, DC to assess the relationship and determine concrete actions that will drive the alliance forward, the mood of our German friends reflected this rough patch. There was great pessimism about how much progress can be achieved in shoring up the relationship given the current environment. Read more Posted on June 7, 2018 by Robin Cammarota in Dr. Steven E. Sokol, News0 commentsContinue Reading